Once
again we are happy to have in Spain Sekiguchi Komei sensei, 21st legitimate representative Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu, president of Komei Juku,
Nippon Koden Bujutsu and the Representative for the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai.
Accompanying him came (like other years) Shimizu Nobuko sensei 8th Dan Hanshi
Jikishinkage Ryû naginata, Menkyo Kaiden Ogasawara Ryû Reihô and school leader Ryoen Ryû naginatajutsu. This is the fourth time
that these sensei moving from Japan to Spain to teach a one-week seminar with 9
hours of daily practice.

For
many years I have been fortunate to train iai
with great Spanish masters, I have also been able to attend seminars European shibucho-hombuchô
of another koryû, but nothing
compared to resort to direct SOURCE, not only to Japan but to those who hold
the highest level in the school I want to study. During these four seminars we
had the enormous privilege for a week, beeing direct students of these sensei and receiving first-hand material
of these old schools, and for our convenience, in our own home in Spain. The
way to thank the sensei all this is simple: keiko,
keiko and more keiko, so his teachings
through our humble contribution we can contribute to disciplines that began in
the sixteenth century can continue from generation to generation. With this
idea in mind, body and heart we conducted the seminar this year 2014.

July 31 - August 1

Day
31 is summarized in a day of travel, many students left their respective houses
and drived to the seminar. The sensei’s
fligth came at 00:00 to Valencia Airport, where was already waiting Minori
sempai. Thanks to the kindness of my family and in particular to my
father (grandmaster of paella), we offered a delicious meal in the tranquility
of the of the Collao Area in Benissa. Meanwhile the remaining members came to
the seminar, Madrid: Jorge, Kike, Carlos and Adrian. From Valencia: David and
Ricardo. From France: Minori sempai
(Normandy shibuchô and named
Sekiguchi Seisui of MJER iaijutsu –
Ryôen Rinka in RER naginatajutsu). From Buenos Aires (Argentina): Martin sempai named Sekiguchi Katsumoto by Sekiguchi
sensei.

My
father cooked this awesome paella for the sensei
and Minori sempai.

August 2: Day of the
International keiko Gasshuku of Spain.

In
Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu,
Sekiguchi sensei chose to start from
the beginning, the first series of koryû,
the interesting work of suwari waza
that dates back to the late seventeenth century and the early eighteenth. The
series, known as Omori Ryû, renamed Seiza no Bu by the 17th sôke Ôe Masamichi Shikei when he made
the restructuring of Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryû. We practiced on this first day
the first nine techniques except the seventh:

The
teaching of Sekiguchi sensei is characterized
not only for showing the riai
(meaning) of the kata but also explain the different scenarios that can occur
in every form, paying close attention to jujutsu applications that can be
performed at the impossibility of using the katana.

In
Ryôen Ryû naginatajutsu Shimizu
sensei also opted to start from the beginning, if the principle includes different
exercises, warming up, serve to gradually achieve the flexibility and elasticity
that is required for proper practice of naginata.
Shimizu sensei recommends the
practice of these exercises at the beginning of each keiko, followed by the practice of all the different suburi kihon of the school: Takane (men, yokomen, kote, sune), Tomoe
(men-kaeshimen, yokomen, do, sune) and Tsuki
(masugu, hineri, Ishizuki).

After
this, we started practicing school series, Shoden no Bu, with the first four kata: Minamo, Dô Giri sono ichi, sono
ni, Shingetsu sono ichi, sono ni and Musô.

After
the study of these basic techniques, Shimizu sensei decided to exponentially increase the level of the train
with the practice of all kata of the
second series, Ryû no Bu: Hatsunagi, Namitsumi, Ryûen, Yamato Emaki and
Kogarashi.

The
teachings of Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryû Iaijutsu
of the 21st Sekiguchi Komei sensei stands
out from others by practicing kenjutsu-kumitachi
from the beggining. Along a deshi
learn the kata of the first series
also learn the pair work. Although the main practice of iaijutsu is based on kaso no
teki (imaginary enemy), Sekiguchi sensei
does not understand the practice of school without studying the distance (maai), rhythm (kyoshi) and the different insights that are achieved having a real
opponent. This day we focus on the first series of seven forms of kenjutsu practiced in school, Tachi Uchi
no Kurai Nanahon no Kata: De Ai, Kobushidori, Zetsumyôken, Dokumyôken, Tsuba
Dome, Ukenagashi and Mappô. The last time of iaijutsu keiko was dedicated to practicing the first three forms of
Bangai Gohon series - Toryu Bangai: Mae, Aranami and Kesa Guruma. In addition
we also practice henka waza iaijutsu
and chôtôjutsu.

Musô
Jikiden Eishin Ryû: Kesa Gake Kihon.

In
Ryôen Ryû naginatajutsu we continue
with the study of the remaining kata
of the first series Shoden no Bu from the fifth to the ninth leaving the last
and most difficult for another day: Sempu sono ichi, sono ni, sono san, Musubi
Kiri, Naginata Kôju, Naginata Zôri and Zashô.

In
Ryôen Ryû time we learn first shidachi
part, the part of naginata, and when once
made progress in this curriculum is time
to learn the uchidachi part of the katana to study the ways in which the
forms were originally placed, on pairs. This is what sets Shoden Kumitachi,
working three kata this time, the
first, second and eighth: Minamo, Dô Giri sono ichi, sono ni and Naginata Zôri.

Sekiguchi
sensei sometimes refers to bumbu ryôdô referring to the need to
understand and enjoy all aspects of Japanese culture and history parallel to
train the body with the physical techniques. Sometimes Sekiguchi sensei makes short breaks to explain
historical concepts that make better understand Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryû.

As
for the technical side, today we conducted a very high level training, to
practice the four earliest forms of the last series of iaijutsu Oku Iai Tachiwaza: Yukizure, Tsuredachi, Sô Makuri and Sô
Dome with a hardness kata training proposed by Sekiguchi sensei increasingly faster repeats. The keiko of the day end with pair work,
this time should be total concentration as the level of kata required it, being the seventh and eighth kata of the upper row of kumitachi
Tsume Iai no Kurai: Tsubame Geshi and Ganseki Otoshi.

Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryû: Seiza no Bu. Yae
Gaki.

In
Ryôen Ryû nagintajutsu we continue
the study of paired kata of the first
series, including the last kata: Fuji
San. Shoden Kumitachi: Minamo (1st) Dô Giri (2nd), Naginata Kôju (7th),
Naginata Zôri (8th) and Fuji San (10th), working both as part of uchidachi and shidachi.

The
workout of the day continued with practice of the second series of school. This
series of five kata is meant to be
done alone to work the concept of kaso no
teki, to begin the work of a shinken
naginata (sharp metal) as well make contact with the work of tantojutsu school. Ryû not Bu:
Hatsunagi, Namitsumi, Ryûen, Yamato Emaki and Kogarashi.

The
keiko of the day end with the study
of two forms of the third and final series of the school characterized by its
technical difficulty, speed of them (especially the role of uchidachi to make shapes in pairs) and
the importance, therefore management or dagger. Tora no Maki: Hi Omote (1st)
and Hishô (6th).

Ryôen Ryû naginatajutsu.
Shiho Giri – Shiho Barai.

August 5: Fourth day of
Spain Gasshuku iaijutsu - naginatajutsu:

Today
we start practicing Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu
with the first series of Bangai, a tachiwaza
work very complex and often is reserved for senior students koryû. However, Sekiguchi sensei's opinion is that if we do not
teach these forms that require much speed when we are youth, how can we pretend
that can properly run when you are old? A constant even in the name of the
three kata in this series is the
speed. If we understand that once the practice began at age 10 or before it is
possible to have a student working on other techniques for 10 or 20 years
before coming to these forms but today, where the youngest exceed twenties,
what sense does it expect to be octogenarian to start this practice supposedly
faster? Bangai Sanbon: Hayanami, Raiden and Jin Rai. The train continued with a
hard review of the forms 3rd, 4th and 5th of the second series Tate Hiza no Bu
and its multiple henka waza: Inazuma,
Ukigumo and Oroshi. In the afternoon we continued the first kata of the third series Oku Iai Iwaza:
Kasumi, ending with the last of the koryukataiaijutsu: Itomagoi sono san, with multiple henka waza.

In
Ryoen Ryû nagintajutsu we started the practice with part of shidachi forms 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th of
the first series Shoden no Bu: Minamo, Naginta Koju, Naginata Zôri and Fuji San.
From there we went to study two forms of the third series Tora no Bu: Nishiki
Goromo (2nd) and Funa Watashi (7th) the difficulty of the latter is very high
and spectacular, especially in kumitachi.
Today we also study Reiho of the
school and the ceremony-kata Shiho
Giri - Shiho Barai with the singing of the poem Rôei. Finally we had the luck
of training Shimizu senseikata: Naginata Mai, where we had to
implement all we learned in the previous day seminar.

Good feelings and good food to make new
energies for the keiko.

August 6: Fifth Day of
Spain Gasshuku iaijutsu - naginatajutsu:

Today
practice of Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu
went back to basics by practicing the six first forms of Seiza no Bu: Mae,
Migi, Hidari, Ushiro, Yae Gaki and Ukenagashi. The origins are very important,
Sekiguchi sensei often refers to the
term onkoshichin, that means learn
the old things to understand the things to come. In this context, today
Sekiguchi sensei told us about the history of Koryu, making special mention of when the school was introduced in
the han of Tosa. Jukucho told
anecdotes and important passages of the previous Sôke and representatives of Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryu, speacially
about the work of the 19th Representative Kono Kanemitsu sensei. In ancient times warriors of Tosa were feared and respected,
that same attitude we ought to have to make any form of Koryu since we are his heirs, and we must honor them with every
movement, powerful and elegant. The practice of the day continued with the
study of a technique already seen the day before, Oku Iai: Itomagoi sono san.
The remaining hours were devoted to practice in pairs of the first series of
Tachi Uchi no Kurai kumitachi Nanahon
no Kata: De Ai, Kobushidori, Zetsumyôken, Dokumyôken, Tsuba Dome, Ukenagashi
and Mappô.

Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryû: Tachi Uchi no Kurai
Nanahon no Kata

In
Ryôen Ryû naginatajutsu the first series Shoden Kumitachi: Minamo, Do Giri,
Shingetsu sono ni, Musô, Sempu sono ichi, sono ni, Zashô and Fuji San. Today is
dedicated to kata where you run, and
therefore could not miss the shape of the second series Ryû no Bu: Ryûen. Like
the previous day also ended the workout with the ceremony Shiho Giri - Shiho
Barai. In the training of Shimizu sensei
showed us etiquette and ways to bow and exchange weapons.

The
picture after the embukai: Iaijutsu and naginatajutsu group, the
Karate and Okinawa Kobudo group and the authorities of Benissa and Valencia.

August 7: Sixth Day of
Spain Gasshuku iaijutsu - naginatajutsu:

In
Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu we trained six first kata of the second series of Koryu,
Tate Hiza no Bu: Yokogumo, Tora no Issoku, Inazuma, Ukigumo and Oroshi. Finally
we perform the kata Hayanuki Chuden
Morote.

We
also had the opportunity to practice the five kata of Tôhô series. This series, called Tôhô Gohon is composed and
maintained today as the traditional method of teaching in Zen Nihon Iaido
Renmei. Each kata corresponds to one
of the schools of iai and kenjutsu more popular: Musô Jikiden
Eishin Ryu, Mugai Ryu, Shinto Munen Ryu, Sui O Ryu and Hoki Ryu. In our school,
this series has been practiced as part of the study and improvement of iai since the time of the 20th
Representative Onoe Masamitsu sensei.

Musô
Jikiden Eishin Ryû: Tate Hiza no Bu: Ukigumo.

In
Ryôen Ryû naginatajutsu we perform
all the kata of Shoden Kumitachi
series as followed: Minamo, Do Giri, Shingetsu, Musô, Sempu sono ichi, sono ni,
Musubi Kiri, Naginata Koju, Naginata Zôri, Zashô and Fuji San: The train
followed with the first three forms of the third series Tora no Bu: Hi Omote,
Nishiki Goromo and Futae no Nagiri to end with Naginata Mai.

The
kenshi family having a good time with
a delicious ice cream in the central square of Benissa.

August 8: Seventh Day
of Spain Gasshuku iaijutsu - naginatajutsu:

Today
was a special day, we had an intense keikoiai and naginata to prepare for a embu
for the political authorities of Benissa and the President of the Valencian
Federation of Karate.

For
5 of the 7 days Gasshuku iaijutsu-naginatajutsu we train at the same time
in other room with the course of Shito Ryu and Okinawa Kobudo of Zen Okinawa
Karatedo Kobudo under the direction of José Miguel Gómez Calderat sensei (7th Dan) and organized by
Francisco Ivars (3rd Dan). In embu delighted us with Shito Ryu karatekata and Okinawa Kobudo weapons using: Bo, Sai, Nunchaku, and Kama.
In this case I am especially proud of my brother Diego Sala (1st Dan) who
performed the Nunchaku kata Kihon Ni.

In
Ryoen Ryû naginatajutsu. We began the
practice with Naginata Mai followed by Shiho Giri Shiho Barai + Rôei. Shimizu sensei currently accepted a personal
request on kata I had more questions,
so we ended the practice keiko with Tora no Bu Kumitachi: Nihen Gaeshi (5th)
and Funa Watashi (7th).

August 10: Farewell
seminar.

On
this day we took the sensei to
Valencia where we wish you a safe journey to Japan, as a gift get us hundreds
of corrections and lessons learned in these 8 days Gasshuku with 9 hours of
intensive training. As in previous years, the promise could not be another than
train, train and more train so that the next time you see us can be proud of
the Spain group. As I said at the beginning of the report, only when the sensei fly back we realize how lucky we
were to receive such ancient teachings and of such quality information directly
from the source and the leaders of both schools of iai-naginata. Now it is our responsibility to train these teachings
to not forget and to continue perpetuating what the sensei so kindly taught us in these days. As for gratitude, I must
first thank my family to support my mother in seminary and my father to do the
work of service and great paella master, without them this conference, like
many others, would not have been possible.

My father of budô, my mother, father, brother and uncle…my family.

Thanks
also to the City Council of Benissa for giving trainees the lodge, and the
Department of Sports with Arturo Poquet and Pere Tent. Without their
collaboration to offer accommodation and location of seminars train so minority
such as koryû not be possible.

Thanks
to all attendees, especially Sekiguchi Katsumoto (Martin Arguello) to come and
train to Spain from Buenos Aires (Argentina). I learned a lot from him during inside
and outside of practice, it is very instructive to talk with a representative
of another country and exchange experiences and knowledge.

Every
year, many thanks to Makita Minori (Sekiguchi Seisui - Ryôen Rinka) came from
Normandy (France). Her help in the keiko
and in the translation (when my Japanese or Jorge falls short) is highly valued
by all, and their support outside the dojo,
helping in the care of the sensei
making them feel as home despite the distance.

And
thanks to all members of Komei Juku Spain both Musô Jikiden Eishin Ryû and Ryôen
Ryû for sharing these hours of sweat and train in Benissa, for helping in the
organization and management of the seminar and especially help the Gasshuku
enjoyed a fun family atmosphere both inside and outside the dojo in the restaurant, in the village square
having some ice cream with jokes sessions, karaoke and other follies with which
we offer the remaining strength day after keiko
day.